Serena Dias: A Gardener’s Paradise in Nuvem
Serena Dias, a retired school principal, has transformed her home in Nuvem into a botanical wonderland, filled with rare and exotic plants from around the world.
GardeningExotic PlantsHoyaOrganic FertilizersSucculentsReal EstateMay 26, 2025
Serena spends most of her day tending to her garden, and when she’s back indoors, she’s either thinking about her plants, talking about them, or educating herself about their care. Her husband, Freddie Dias, smiles in agreement. The couple’s home in Nuvem is an amateur observatory of sorts, brimming with hundreds of varieties of rare and beautiful plants collected over years. Every inch of the compound that surrounds the house is used efficiently, designed with the needs of each plant in mind. Their car is parked on the street, as the garage has also been claimed by the garden.
Sunshine-loving plants like bougainvillaea and adeniums (desert roses) stand proudly on the compound wall, their fuchsia flowers in full bloom. “When the rains begin, I move them under the shed, as they don’t do well with too much water,” she explains. The orchids – over 75 distinct varieties – hang in special baskets, carefully sheltered from direct sunlight. Reedy water plants are grouped together, while crotons and hardier local plants thrive in the small rock garden. Tiny containers and terrariums of succulents cover every windowsill – but those are only the ones that cannot be accommodated in the makeshift ‘greenhouse’ Serena and Freddie have built for them, to give them the best chance of surviving the Goan humidity.
“Succulents are notoriously difficult to grow here because they require cooler, drier weather. We have to be so careful not to overwater them, as their plump leaves rot quickly,” Serena sighs, as she fusses over the knobbly little plants neatly arranged on shelves inside the warm enclosure, where bulbous cacti flaunt strange, colourful flowers. Serena’s pride and joy, however, is her Hoya collection – rare vines with waxy, star-shaped blooms that seem too perfect to be real. “They aren’t easy to grow, but luckily, mine are thriving,” she says. Native to Indonesia, the Hoyas occupy premium real estate in the garden, hanging closest to the front door. Nearly all plants are neatly labelled with their common and Latin names, many of which sound more like magical spells than plant varieties.
Ironically, Serena was a zoology teacher, who inculcated a love for gardening in her students. “We grew potted plants all over the school, and I was very strict in ensuring the students cared for them properly. Even today, I call and ask about them,” she laughs. As you go deeper into this botanical paradise, Freddie’s touches become apparent – a wooden wheelbarrow and model well, a whimsical little bridge over a water channel, a rocky pond full of aquatic plants, logs and tree trunks fashioned into tables, shelves and receptacles to hold plants – all built from scratch by engineer Freddie, who retired as principal of Fr Agnel Polytechnic in Verna.
Happily indulgent of his wife’s hobby, Freddie helps her enthusiastically – be it with the logistics of hanging and displaying the thousands of plants they have, or with building and heavy lifting, or joining her on her quest to hunt down horticulture societies and plant nurseries whenever they go on holiday. “Well, I love my wife, and my wife loves plants – so I automatically love plants,” he says with a smile. He has only one rule – no plants inside the house – which Serena agrees with too, as she doesn’t fancy mud and bugs indoors. “In the garden, I use mostly natural ingredients to deter insects and pests – powdered cinnamon works great,” she says.
While each species of flora requires different nutrients, Serena swears by organic fertilisers like vermicompost, bone meal, seaweed, and the ubiquitous Jeeva Amruth – a concoction of cow dung and urine, gram flour, jaggery, and ghee. Other supplies, including special soil for succulents and cinder for the orchids, are couriered in from her favourite nurseries in Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. It is an expensive hobby, the couple admits, but one they thoroughly enjoy. “Our children are settled abroad, but I’m thrilled that my grandchildren have taken to plants too. Maybe one of them will inherit my green thumb,” she says, smiling. Serena is known for gifting plants but never selling them. “I just want young people to discover how joyful it is to watch something grow. If someone’s willing to learn, I’m always happy to teach.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Serena Dias's main hobby?
Serena Dias's main hobby is gardening. She is particularly passionate about collecting and growing exotic plants from around the world.
Where does Serena keep her plants?
Serena keeps her plants in her garden in Nuvem, Goa. The garden is meticulously designed to accommodate the diverse needs of her extensive collection of plants.
What are some of the plants Serena grows?
Serena grows a variety of plants, including bougainvillaea, adeniums, orchids, succulents, and her prized Hoya collection, which are rare vines with waxy, star-shaped blooms.
How does Serena care for her plants?
Serena uses organic fertilizers like vermicompost, bone meal, seaweed, and Jeeva Amruth. She also employs natural pest control methods, such as powdered cinnamon.
What is Freddie Dias's role in Serena's gardening hobby?
Freddie Dias, Serena's husband, is very supportive of her gardening hobby. He helps with the logistics of hanging and displaying plants, building structures, and even joins her on plant-hunting trips.
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